As part of celebration for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav and 75th year of Air landed operations of Indian Army at Budgam Airport, a re-enactment of history covering the violation of ‘Standstill Agreement’ by Pakistan, brutalization by Pakistani forces of people of Jammu & Kashmir by unleashing rape, murder, looting and arson, followed by arrival of Indian Army on 27 October 1947 to evict Pakistani Forces was carried out.
The Badgam landings are the first military operations of Independent India, when Indian Army was inducted by Indian Air Force at Budgam Airport on 27 October 1947.
1st SIKH, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, who later laid down his life at Baramulla, changed the course of the war, wherein people and soldiers of State Forces of Jammu & Kashmir and the Indian Army fought alongside valiantly, to evict Pakistani Forces, driving them out of most of Jammu & Kashmir till ceasefire on 05 January 1949.
The re-enactment of the historic event was organised at Old Air Field, Srinagar, on 27 October 2021, to pay obeisance to the brave soldiers and people of Jammu & Kashmir who laid down their lives, and also to honour the next of kin of war heroes who participated in the 1947-48 War.
The event was witnessed by the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, Air Marshal Amit Dev, Air Officer Commanding-In-Chief, Western Air Command, Lieutenant General Devendra Pratap Pandey, General Officer Commanding 15 Corps along with several other civil and military dignitaries. In addition, the Next of Kin of war veterans who travelled across the country to be a part of this mega event were felicitated.
27 October is celebrated as ‘Infantry Day’ by the Indian Army to commemorate the arrival of Indian Army at Badgam Airfield to protect Jammu & Kashmir after the ‘Instrument of Accession’ was signed on 26 October 1947 between Maharaja Hari Singh and the Republic of India.